Melvin Jenkins Enters Hinds Community College Hall of Fame

Belated congratulations to Melvin Jenkins (Seahawks 1987-90, Detroit 1991-92, Atlanta 1993, Detroit 1993), who was inducted into the Hinds Community College Hall of Fame (Class of 1982) in 2006 for his achievements in football and track & field. Hinds is the largest community college in the state of Mississippi, serving approximately 19,500 students each year.

After attending Hinds, where he was All-State in both sports (1981 and 1982 track & field, 1982 football), Melvin attended the University of Cincinnati (UC), where he was a starter at defensive back for two years. He was recognized at UC as one of their most outstanding players.

Melvin began his professional football career with the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL in 1984. He recorded 11 interceptions during his three seasons in the CFL prior to signing with the Seahawks in 1987. Melvin played a pivotal role in the Seahawks’ defensive backfield in his three seasons in Seattle, earning a reputation as one of the league’s best coverage cornerbacks during that period.

He turned in stellar individual performances in the playoffs over the years, beginning with the 1987 playoff against the Houston Oilers where he recorded 12 tackles and an interception. His best single season performance was in 1988, where he had a career high 74 tackles and three interceptions along with four forced fumbles. This earned him starts in all 16 of the team’s regular season games.

Melvin played for the Detroit Lions from 1991-92, starting all 32 regular season games in that span. In 1991 he finished fourth in the NFL in total tackles with 86 (74 solo), and he returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown in an NFL divisional playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys. He also recorded 72 more tackles in 1992.

Melvin and his wife Alice have a son, Melvin Jr., and a daughter, Melantha, and reside in Issaquah, WA.